Shingle



March 24, 1936. N. P. HARSHBERGER SHINGLE Filed March 14, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet l March 24, 1936 N. P. HARsHBERGr-:R 2,035,369

` sHINGLE Filed March 14, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 1936UNITED "STATES SHINGLE Norman P. Harshberger, Scarsdale, N. Y., as-

signor to Bakelite Building Products Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1931, Serial No. 522,671

20 Claims.

This invention, relating, as indicated, to shingles, ismore particularlydirected to an improvement in shingles of the type known as compositionshingles.

Briefly stated, it is an object of the invention to provide as cheaplyas possible an interlocking composition shingle which is especiallyadapted for re-covering jobs, however, the invention is not to beconstrued as limited to only re-covering old roofs, as the shingle ofthe present invention can be just as well used on a new roof.

Heretofore, shingles have been manufactured which have interlockingmeans and are capable of ready incorporation with the roof. The maindifficulty with the shingles of the prior art has projections onshingles the interlocking means,.

which I will refer to as tabs, have beenv of hook like formation, andsuch formation has rendered it exceedingly easy to catch the tabs andtear them from the main body portion.

Another undesirable feature residing in mostY of the shingles of theprior art is that an undue amount of nailing is required which entailedboth the labor of nailing and the expense of the. nails.

A further undesirable feature of the shingles of the patentedart is thattheir shapes represented a radical departure from the shapes ofconventional shingles with which bulders'are accustomed to work.Ordinarily, builders being menof mature age, are extremely opposed toadopting an article which is radically different and this is especiallytrue where the article. has

However, re-

by reversible I mean reversible one way. Even more rare, and in fact`unknown prior to my invention, is a shingle which is reversible bothways, that is, a shingle which can be laid in courses starting at theridge of the roof and the eaves thereof, and starting in either themiddle ofthe roof or the side edges thereof. As one skilled in the artwill readily'realize, such features in a shingle are most desirable inthat the' roofer does not have to plan his work ahead, but can start atlany convenient point andflnish the roof. Starting from the top of theroof has numerous advantages among which are, rst, the finished roof isprotected against any possible injury which might occur from constantpassage of the workmen over such finished portion. This is especiallydangerous where in a re-covering job the old shingles are liable to beforced through the new composition shingle if trod upon. Second, theroofer can easily nail a working support to the sheathing -or oldshingles, and this can be removed as he continues down the roof, causingno injury to the roof and providing a very expeditious manner ofsupporting. Third, supports forthe shingles to be used can be placed onthe sheathing .or old shingles and quickly removed in a fraction of thetime now required where such supports rest on' the newly laid shingles.At present all work is done upon newly laid shingles and all materialsare carried across such shingles in a sharp distinction to the manner inwhich the shingle of my invention may be used.

It is,l therefore, an object of the present inven tion to devise ashingle whichwill be free from all of lthe preceding disadvantages andyet one which will be cheaper to manufacture.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of c various mechanical forms in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:-

Fig. l is a plan view of the preferred form of an individual shingle;Fig. 2 is a plan view of a 45 plurality shingles as shown in Fig. l asthey appear when secured to a roof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of amodification; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a plurality of shingles as shownin Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification; Figs. 6 and 50'I are plan views of modifications of an individualV shingle; and Figs.8, 9 and 10 are views of vario'us methods of laying the shingle shown inFig. l.

Referringnow to the drawings; and especially to Fig. 1, it will be seenthat my improved shingle in its preferred form comprises a body portion28 of the general shape of a parallelogram with longitudinal edges 26and 21 and another straight edge 28. The end of the shingle opposite theedge 28 is of irregular contour and consists of a tab 2| which isdefined by an outer edge 29, this last named edge substantiallyparalleling edge 28 and being connected to the body portion of theshingle by the edges 39 and 32, which, if continued, meet edges 26 and21 at an angle. The remaining edges 3l and 33 are substantially parallelto the edges 28 and 29, and the length of the tab 2| is substantiallyequal to that of a slot 23 which is closely adjacent the edge 28. Theslot 23 is preferably of a Width which is greater than the thickness ofthe shingle so that the tab 2| may be readily received therein, and aspreviously stated, the slot extends substantially parallel and adjacentthe edge 28 leaving a space suitable for nailing. It will be seen thatonly one nail 24 is required to hold the shingle in one definiteposition because of the cooperation afforded by the tab with the slot.

If Fig. 2 the above described shingle is shown as in assembled positionon a roof, but of course it will be understood that the shingle may justas well be laid in other relationships, such as illustrated in Figs. 8,9 and 10. 'I'he manner in which the roofs shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 arelaid will be described more in detail as thedescription proceeds.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that my improved shingle maycomprise a main body portion I which is of the general shape of apolygon, and more specifically may resemble a rectangle with a tabprojecting from one end. 'I'he main body portion I has two longitudinaledges 2 and 3 which extend in approximately parallel relation. One endof the shingle is at an angle to the longitudinal sides 2 and 3, thuspresenting an edge 4, which, with the edges 2 and 3, form three sides ofthe shingle. of the shingle has a projection or tab 1 extendingtherefrom, and this tab has Aits outer edge 8 extending in substantiallyparallel relation to the edge 4. The portions 9 and II connect the edge8 with the main body portion I, and as the tab has a length 'which isless than the width of the shingle two edges I and I2 extend at anglesto the longitudinal sides 2 and 3.

- At that portion of the shingle I which is opposite to the tab 1 a slot5 is provided for the reception of the tab of a shingle of the sameconfiguration as shown. This slot preferably has a width which isgreater than the thickness of the shingle to be received therein, and alength which is preferably equal to the length of the tab 1 at its base.

Between the slot 5 and theedge 4 a space is left for nailing'purposes,and as shown, a nail 6 is received in said space. Ordinarily, one nailis suilicient to hold'the shingle in place, but of course, two or morenails may be used, depending mainly upon the size of the shingle.

As will be noted from Fig. 4 of the drawings, the shingle I i`sextremely easyto lay, it being merely necessary to insert the tab 1 ofone in the slot 5 of a second and place a nail 6 approx.- imately at theend opposite the tab of the first. All of this can be done in. afraction of thetime usually required to lay interlocking shingles whichmake use of hook like projections and curled` edges.

The remaining edgel In Fig. 5 a slight modification of the shingle shownin Fig. 3 is illustrated and in this instance the shingle haslongitudinal edges I4 and I5 which are of wave like formation to impartto the finished roof a rustic effect. This shingle is just as economicalas the shingle shown in Fig. 3 as the curves are complementary and whenthe shingle is cut very little, if any, waste occurs. 'Ihis shingle hasa tab I6 corresponding to the tab 1, and an edge I1 corresponding to theedge 4. It is also provided with the slot I3 for the reception of thetab I6 of another shingle and can be laid in the same manner asdescribed with respect to shingle I or 20.

In Fig. 6 a still further modification is shown, and in this embodimentthe shingle 50 closely resembles the shingle of Fig. 1, with theexception that the slot 60 extends to the edge 5I, this edge being oneof the substantially parallel longitudinal edges 5I and 52. The tab 54is provided at one edge of the shingle and this tab is bounded by theedge 55 and the tapering edges 56 and 58 which connect the edge 55 tothe offsets 51 and 59. The edge 55 is approximately parallel to the edge53 and likewise the edges 51 and 59 extend approximately parallel toboth of said edges. The tab, as shown, is of tapering formation but itis not absolutely necessary to form the tab in this shape, it beingpossible to provide a tab the full length of the slot 69, or a tabsimilar to tab 1 of the shingle I, that is, one in which the connectingedges 56 and 59 extend in lines which are parallel to the edges 5I and52.

In Fig. 7 a still further modification is shown in which the transverseedges of the shingle are of curved formation, which not only imparts apleasing ornamental appearance but in addition renders the joint moreeffective against the downwash when the shingles are laid horizontally.The modification shown has a body portion 35 and a tab 39 withlongitudinal edges 36 and 31 which are approximately parallel. Theshingle has the general shape of a polygon and the edges 36 and 31 areconnected by a curved edge 38. At the opposite end of the shingle a tab39 is provided, which is defined by the outermost transverse edge 40,connecting edges 42 and 43 and the offset edges 4I and 44. It will benoted that the outermost edge of the tab 49 is curved in substantiallyparallel relation with the edge 38, and this edge 38 has locatedadjacent thereto a slot 45 which runs approximately parallel to the saidedge 38. The employment of wave-like shaped slotsvand/or tab edges asshown in this figure greatly facilitates the assembly of adjacentshingles, since it permits a small portion of the tab to partiallyengage the most a/c'cessible portion of the slot. and subsequentlythel/whole tab may be slipped into position.

In Fig. 8 one manner of laying the preferred embodiment of my shingle isshown, and briefly the method consists in laying columns 60 and 6I,after which an overlapping column 62 is placed so that its longitudinaledges extend parallel to the edges of the shingles in the aforesaidcolumns 60 and 6I. From this it will be seen that the roofer will beenabled to start at the ridge of the roof and lay the first shingle inthe vertical column 60 and then lay the rst shingle in the verticalcolumn 6I, after which a half shingle is started in the verticaloverlapping column 62. 'I'he same operations are repeated as the rooferextends his work down the roof, and as a result the roof is laid fromthe'ridge to the eaves, and the shingles which have been laid cannot bedamaged'by subsequent working operations for the reason that the rooferhas completed the work above him and need not operate upon a laidroofing surface, as is customary with all shingles prior to the presentinvention.

In Fig. 9 another method of laying the shingles is shown in which thecolumns 63, 64 and 65 are lapped in succession one upon the other. As aresult the roofer can expeditiously lay the shingles without injuring`those shingles placed in position, and additional supports for theroofer and the shingles with which he works can be placed upon the subroof whether it be sheathing or old shingles .without any possibility ofdamage to the laid roof. In the event that a diagonal effect is desiredthe method disclosed in Fig. 10 can be followed so as to present apleasing ornamental eiect. Here the shingles can be laid upon thesheathing I8", but in thisinstance the roof can bc laid more quickly bybeginning at the eaves. However the roof can be laid by beginning at theridge by nailing the shingles in the middle of the nailing space, thatis, the lspace between the slot 23 and the edge 28. In order to do thisit is merely necessary to start a course at the ridge and then .insertthe succeeding lower course under the upper course, and nail eachshingle in the middle of the beforementioned nailing space.

A distinct advantage derived from a shingle I formed according to m'yinvention is that the tab forms a lap which not only serves to lock oneend of the shingle but in addition forms a water proof lap. Specically,the tab of itself aids in preventing the admission of water through thejoint Ato the sub roof.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 illustrates a slot which connects withone edge, and in this instance .the slot is disclosed in its preferredform as a slot of substantial width and connects with one of thelongitudinal edges. However, in some cases where a similar result isdesired but it is not desired to extend the preferred form of slot tothe shingle edge it is desirable to slit the shingle to form theremainder of the slot and this may be done bfploviding a small slitextending at approximately right angles to the `slot 23 and edge 28 ofthe shingle 20.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and '7,

I it will be seen that a reversible shingle is provided which has threeedges which can be used as a butt, thus enabling the roofer to start andfinish his roof from any desired point, and this will be seen to beextremely advantageous in many roofs.

From the preceding description, it will be noted that I have provided ashingle in which as little as possible of the shingle surface isoverlapped, thus rendering the shingle cheaper to apply. It willextremely desirable characteristic. As a further.

advantage it will be perceived that a small amount of nailing isrequired so that both labor and material aresaved.

A more important advantage is that the shingle is not a radicaldeparture in shape from the conventional shingles, and .yet is capableof interlocking in permanent working relation. 'I'he interlockingtakes-place between two shingles in the same course and is not only avery easy operation but takes place as the shingles are being laid in acourse. This enables the roofer to lay a much greater number of shinglesthan where he first lays a course, and then interlocks the succeedingcourse therewith.

In addition to the preceding advantages, it will be seen that my shingleis capable of being laid from the ridge of the roof downwardly and thatit is reversible so that -a roof can be started at practically anypoint. Many advantages flow Pom the ability to lay my shingles in adownward direction, outstanding among which is that that portion of theroof which has been completed is not touched again by the roofer orother workman, and that supports for the roofer and material may beprovided in a fraction of the time now necessary to provide suchsupports.

Throughout the specication the subject matter relates to a shingle ofthe type known as a composition shingle, but obviously 4other materialsmay be used, such as metalor wood, and the same excellent results wouldbe obtained.

:I'he proportions as illustrated are not to be construed as limited tothose shown in the drawings, since they may be varied almostindefinitely according to the design desired.'

Reference has been made to a roof merely fo the purpose of shorteningthe description, but o! course it will be understood that the shingledescribed is just as capable of use as siding or weather boarding, as ina roof or any other analogous structure.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

1. A shingle having the general shape of a rectangular parallelogram,with two substantially straight edges, and with one of the other twoopposite edges substantially straight and at right anglesto said rstnamed edges, the remaining edge being crooked and having an outwardlytapered tab positioned substantially centrally thereof, a slot spacedwithin and lying adjacent said substantially right angled edge, saidslot having a length substantially equal to that of said tab.

2. A shingle having a slot and a tab, said slot extending substantiallyparallel and within one 5 of the edges of said shingle, and said tabbeing positioned along an opposite edge thereof and comprising more thanone half its length. said shingle being adapted to be laid with said tabin the slot of an adjacentunderlying similar shingle, and said tabextending in the direction of the shinglecourse when laid.

, 3. A shingle adapted to be laid in courses in downward progression.said shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram comprisingthree substantially straight edges and affourth edge of irregularcontour comprising a tab, there being a slot spacedfrom an edge oppositesaid tab, and said tab having a length substantially equal to that ofsaid slot, and engaging the slot of an adjacent underlying shingle inassembly.

4. A shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram with threesubstantially straight edges and a fourth edge of irregular contourthere being an elongated slot spaced within one of said edges andextending substantially parallel therewith a major portion of the widthof the shingle, and said irregular edge comprising principally a tab,said tab having a length no greater than that of said slot, two of saidstraight edges being parallel and the third straight edge extending atan angle to said two edges, said shingle being adapted to be laid in aline parallel with said parallel edges.

5. A shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram with threesubstantially straight edges and a fourth edge of irregular contour,there being an interior slot spaced from one of said straight edges andsaid irregular edge comprising a tab, said tab having-a lengthsubstantially equal to that of said slot, two of said straight edgesbeing parallel and the third straight edge extending at an angle to saidtwo edges, said shingle being adapted to be laid in a line parallel withsaid parallel edges, said slot extending at an acute angle to said line,and an edge thereof dening an edge of a shingle exposure in assembly.

6. A shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram, with twosubstantially straight opposite edges, and with one of two otheropposite edges straight and at substantially right angles to a firstnamed edge, the remaining edge being crooked and comprising a tab ofmore than one half its length, a slot adjacent said substant-ially rightangled edge, said slot having a length greater than that of said tab,and engageable with the tab of a similar overlying shingle in assembly.

7; A shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram with threestraight edges and a fourth edge of irregular contour, there being aslot spaced from one of said straight edges and said irregular edgecomprising a tab, said tab having a length equal to that of said slot,`two of said straight edges being parallel and the third straight edgeextending at an angle to said two edges, said shingle being adapted tobe laid in a line parallel with said parallel edges, and in successive-courses, starting from a ridge of a roof and continuing downwardly. 8.A shingle having the general shape of a parallelogram with threesubstantially straight full edges and a fourth edge of irregularcontour, there being a slot spaced from one of said straight edges andsubstantially parallel thereto, said irregular edge comprising a tab,said tab having a length no greater than that of said slot, there beinga nailing space between said slot and the full edge of the shingle fromwhich it is spaced, and the location of said slot and tab permittinglaying of a plurality of said shingles in assembly beginning at the highpoint`of a surface and progressing downwardly.

9. A shingle adapted to cover a roof from its ridge to its eaves, saidshingle having the general shape of a parallelogram, means on saidshingle for interlocking one of said shingles to another,

said means comprising a tab and a slot, a nailing space between saidslot'and one of the edges of said shingle, the location of said meansand nailing space permitting laying of said shingle beginning at saidridge and continuing in courses parallel to said ridge.

10. A shingle with a locking means on one edge thereof consisting of atapered tab the length of which is more than one half the whole lengthof an opposite edge, said tab being adapted to register with a. slot,the length of said slot being equal I or greater than that of said tab.

11. A roof comprising substantially exible shingles laid in courses,said shingles comprising units having the general shape of aparallelogram and having slots adjacent and within one of their edges,said slots having a length of more than one half the length of saidedges and said units having opposite edges comprising tabs, said tabshaving a length no greater than said slots and said shingles being laidwith their tabs engaged wth the slots of other adjacent shingles, andedges of said slots forming weather edges of the shingle exposures, andcourses of said shingles being laid with the distance between adjacentedges of every rst and third course being no greater than the length ofsaid slots;

12. A covering for a weather surface comprising courses of shingles,said shingles adapted to be laid in courses starting from the high pointof said surface and progressing downwardly, and having locking meanscomprising irregular edges forming tabs, and slots spaced from otheredges in interior portions of the shingles; adjacent shingles in acourse being interlocked, with the tab-formed edge of one shingleoverlying the slotspaced edge of the adjacent shingle and with the tabof the overlying shingle inserted in the slot of the underlying shingleand driven fastening means along said slot-spaced edge and between theinterlock and said slot-spaced edge passing through the underlyingshingle.

13. A shingle having an aperture at one side of its longitudinal centerand adjacent one end of the shingle, said aperture having an endlesswall, and a lock tongue projecting from the other side edge thereof andin transverse alinement with said opening.

14. A shingle having a lock tongue projecting from one side edgethereof, and tongue-receiving means wholly surrounded by the material ofthe shingle and spaced transversely from and in transverse alinementwith said lock tongue to receive a lock tongue of an adjoining shingleand permit said lock tongue to be positioned underneath the firstmentioned shingle adjacent said tongue-receiving means.

15. A shingle having a lock tongue projecting from one side edgethereof, and an aperture in the shingle adjacent its other side edge andin transverse alinement with said lock tongue, said aperture beingadapted to have the lock tongue of an adjoining shingle passedtherethrough and underlie the rst-mentioned shingle adjacent saidaperture.

16. A shingle of polygonal formation having locking means at a forwardend thereof and receiving means at the rearward end thereof, saidlocking means comprising a tab of more than one half the length of ashingle edge of which it forms a part, and said receiving meanscomprising an elongated interior slot spaced fromthe rearward end of theshingle and substantially coextensive with said tab and having an edgewhen exposed presenting a convex and a concave portion in relation tosaid rearward end, said convex portion of said slot edge being morerearward of the shingle with respect to the forward end thereof thansaid concave portion of said slot edge.

1'7. A shingle of polygonal formation having a locking and a receivingmeans, comprising respectively a tab having a length more than onehalf ashingle edge of which it forms a part and spaced from the two adjacentedges and an elongated slot spaced from an edge opposite the tab formedledge and substantially coextensive with said tab for receiving the tabof a similar shingle, said tab having a forward edge of Wave-likecontourto facilitate the interlock 'between engaging shingles and saidslot also having an edge of wave-like contour to be exposed andextending obliquely to the direction of the shingle course when laid.

18. A shingle of polygonal formation having a locking and a receivingmeans, said locking means comprising a tab of more than one-half thelength of a shingle edge of which it forms'a part and said receivingmeans comprising an elongated interior slot comprising a cutsubstantially coextensive with said tab and spaced from an edge oppositesaid tab formed edge, said shingle adapted to be laid with the tab ofone shingle inserted in the receiving means of an adjacent similarshingle and with the shingle portion adjacent said tab overlapping theedge of said adjacent shingie from which said receiving means is spaced.

19. A shingle having a lock tongue on an edge thereof and a stopshoulder adjacent the base of the tongue, and tongue-receiving meanswholly surrounded by the material of the shingle and spaced transverselyfrom and yin substantial transverse alignment with said lock tongue toreceive a lock tongue of an adjoining shingle and permit said locktongue to be lpositioned underneath the first mentioned shingle adjacentsaid tongue-receiving means.

` 20. A surface covering comprising a plurality of elements laid incourses with adjacent elements engaged and adjacent courses inoverlapping relation, said elements having a main body portion, a tabprojecting from one en d of the body portion and a notch formed by saidprojecting tab and the adjacent body portion, a slit adjacent theopposite end of the body portion and spaced Within the edges forming themost remote corner adjacent said notch, said slit, determining apartially connected section of the body portion for receiving a metallicsecuring means, said shingles being secured to the underlying surface bymetallic securing means passed through the partially connected sectionsof the elements and one element in a course covering said securing meansand partially connected section of a second in the same course, andhaving its tab underlying the second element adjacent said coveredportions and said notch of the rst element 4adapted -to provide a stopfor engagement of adjacent shingles.

NORMAN P. HARSHBERGER.

